He made the disclosure on Monday in an online statement, while insisting that the criminal elements such as kidnappers, armed robbers, sea pirates, cultists, illegal oil bunkers, crude oil thieves and other hoodlums were now finding it extremely difficult to operate in the crude oil and gas-rich region.

Iliyasu said: “Following the official flag-off of Operation Crocodile Smile II by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai on Friday, 13th October 2017, the tempo of operational activities within 6 Division Area of Responsibility (AOR) has since been stepped up, with high morale among troops of the division.

“It is evident that the increased presence of troops both on land and in the waterways dominating the entire 6 Division AOR has started yielding fruits.

“In 2 Brigade AOR, which covers Akwa Ibom State, vigilant troops, based on a tip-off by some patriotic Nigerians, on 9th October 2017, arrested one Mr. Udeme Dick Nnah, a notorious cultist, who has been terrorising the community. In a similar operation on 12th October, 2017, troops of 2 Brigade Garrison, after careful surveillance, arrested the duo of Mr. Saviour Friday Markus and Mr. Nsika Okon Udoh, on cult-related activities.

“On 10th October, 2017, troops of 2 Brigade Garrison on patrol, accosted a group of vandals at Itu Paper Mill in Uruan Local Government Area (of Akwa Ibom State), cutting armoured cables belonging to the company. 2 suspects: Mr. Ekom and Mr. Ndefrike, were arrested with 3 rolls of vandalised cables and 2 motorcycles. Additionally, on the same day, troops raided the residence of a suspected arms supplier, one Mr. Friday Silas Udoh at Ikot Odiong of Ukanafun LGA,(of Akwa Ibom State), where he was arrested. Items recovered from the residence include live cartridges, locally-made guns, gunpowder, damaged single barrel guns and gun-making accessories.

Spokesman of 6 division also stated that on October 15 this year, troops on a robust patrol to Ikpe community of Etim Ekpo LGA of Akwa Ibom state, encountered and arrested three suspected cult members, while items recovered from them include a locally-made long barrel gun and one locally-made short gun, with the troops also carrying out raids/destruction of an identified criminal hideout/shrine at Ikpe, where one suspect was arrested.

In a cordon-and-search operation conducted by the troops of 6 divisions on 17th October 2017 in the house of one Mr. Ikom Monday at Ikot Ibekwe in Ukanafun LGA, he revealed that one locally made pistol, 11 expended cartridges and one live cartridge were discovered buried in a toilet, stressing that a night patrol the same day, between Ikot Apetach and Ikot Ituen, arrested three suspected criminals in possession of a locally-made jackknife and wraps of Indian hemp.

Iliyasu said: “Suspected cultist, Mr. Nnamso Thompson Akpan, was nabbed by troops at Nkek village of Ukanafun LGA of Akwa Ibom State. There was also arrest of two suspected kidnappers at Nkek and Oyoyo villages of Ukanafun LGA, who were found to be in possession of threats letters meant for their potential victims.

“The same success story is unfolding in the neighbouring Rivers State, where troops of 6 Brigade are also tightening the noose on criminal elements and economic saboteurs in the entire state. On 10th October, 2017, at 2:00 am, troops of 29 Battalion intercepted a MARK truck, loaded with suspected stolen crude oil at Rukpokwu area of Obio-Akpor LGA of the state. Suspects fled and abandoned the truck on sighting the troops. On the same day, troops of 146 Battalion, in conjunction with elements of 130 Battalion, discovered and destroyed an illegal refinery with six large cooking pots, a large metal container, filled with stolen crude oil and a large reservoir containing illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) at Kurughene general area.

“The troops arrested six suspected illegal oil bunkers/welders at the site and recovered one generating set, two gas cylinders and other welding accessories. Another illegal refinery was also discovered and destroyed same day along Patrick Waterside-Bodo axis by troops of 146 Battalion.

“On 11th October, at about 8:30 am, troops of 29 Battalion, in conjunction with elements of 130 and 146 Battalions, also identified and destroyed reactivated illegal refinery at Bolo, with three large active cooking pots, four large reservoirs containing stolen crude oil and three speedboats, loaded with illegally-refined AGO. On 12th October, 2017, around 3:30 am, troops discovered and destroyed 110 drums of illegally refined AGO at Okrika. Continued efforts by the troops on the same day also saw to the destruction of many other illegal refineries and militant camps at Akpara, Ayoisi, Idama and Km 45, while one Mr. Gogo Babson was arrested with fifteen drums of illegally-refined kerosene in an unregistered Fiat bus.

“On 13th October, 2017, one metal barge and a wooden Cotonou boat, loaded with stolen crude oil, were intercepted along Patrick Waterside. Same day at Uzuaku along NNPC pipeline, one white unregistered Mark truck, containing 55,000 litres of illegally-refined AGO and one yellow Man Diesel truck, with registration number: XA 508 DKU, Gombe, loaded with about 30,000 litre of illegally refined AGO in a constructed tank and concealed with poultry feed bags, were intercepted.”

Spokesman of 6 division also stated that between Borikiri, Ibeto and Petro log (in Port Harcourt) on October 14, troops discovered 100 pieces of 25-litre jerry cans, four 250-litre drums containing illegally-refined AGO and another two 250-litre drums, filled with illegally-refined kerosene.

In a similar operation on October 15 October, between Slaughter market and Onne in Rivers state, he revealed that troops discovered 112 25-litre jerry cans, 32 250-litre drums, containing illegally-refined AGO and also arrested was an Iveco truck, with registration number FST 554 XM Lagos and two 14-seater buses, continuing various quantities of illegally-refined products, while on October 16, the resilient troops, based on credible intelligence, apprehended a notorious illegal oil bunkering kingpin, Mr. Emomotime Ayaba Sese, aka Dada, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

Iliyasu said: “A patrol team discovered a reactivated illegal refinery with three active pots at Doroko in KE, with metal containers filled with illegal products on 17th October, 2017. The site was destroyed by the troops. They did same to the discovered 53 25-litre jerry cans, twenty 250-litre drums and 40 sacks, all containing illegally-refined products at Akinima and Okrika (Rivers State) respectively.

“The gallant troops, based on credible information from patriotic Nigerians, tracked and apprehended two suspected notorious kidnappers/cultists; Mr. Justice Sigah and Mr. Godknows, who have been terrorising Odemisama and Odemude communities in Ahoada, Rivers State. Troops also continued with their robust patrols, where they identified and destroyed an illegal refinery with five cooking pots and several large metal containers at Tuma general area.

“At Mbiama, Rivers State, troops discovered and destroyed 86 25-litre jerry cans, four 200-litre drums and 16 sacks containing illegal products. Same day, the hardworking troops, in conjunction with SPDC local pipeline surveillance team, traced and destroyed a massive illegal bunkering dump along Ogbobolo Andoni, consisting of five illegal refining points. Items recovered from the site include four long rubber connecting hoses, two generating sets, one gas cylinder and one deep freezer. Other items include a speedboat, three wooden Cotonou boats and three large storage tanks, all containing stolen crude oil.

“Acting on intelligence, troops conducted a cordon-and-search operation at Elebrada and Oduoha communities of Emuoha LGA of Rivers State, where it was revealed that members of Icelander’s cult group hold meetings. No arrest was made, as the suspects have all taken refuge in the forests. However, 120 rounds of 7.62mm special, 27 rounds of 9mm para, one clearing rod, one jungle hat, 6 cutlasses and one Canon camera were recovered.”

Spokesman of 6 division also stated that on the same day that Elebrada and Oduoha were searched, the troops also arrested one notorious kidnapper/armed robber, popularly known as Aposi in Ihugbogo, disclosing that all the apprehended suspects and recovered items had been handed over to the relevant security agencies for possible prosecution, with the operation continuing.